Nestable casserole with platter



Oct. 23, 1934. A. P. STALL: 1,978,175

NESTABLE CASSEROLE WITH PLATTER Filed May 21. 1932.

PAT/P A770P/V7 Patented Oct. 23, 1934 UNITED STATES vPsuns1w critics 1,978,175 nEsTABLE CASSEROLE WITH PLATTER Albert P. Stall, Chicago, 111. Application- May 21, 1932, Serial No. 512,727 V 2 Claims, (01. 65-59 I i 11 tion for patent on Nestable casserole by this same inventor on April 1, 1932, Serial No. 602,533.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a n-estable casserole with a cover which casserole either with or without the cover can be assembled in nested relation with. other casseroles, and in conjunction with plates or platters while at the same time assuring a stacking of the same in such relation that relative 1 slippage is positively avoided. i

' Another important object of the invention rethe invention resides in the provision of means in conjunction with a nestable casserole or cover whereby escape of steam or vapors can be provided for in the event the casserole is used for dry, fried or baked articles wherein it is desired that crispness of the same be retained. At the same time, there is provided means for selectively positioning the cover with respect to the vent means, so that the retention of steam or vapors can be accomplished whenever desired as for example,'in' conjunction with the containing and serving of stews and the like which are necessarily of such composition and consistencythat considerable moisture is preferable.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully I described.

In the drawing: Figure l is a sectional view of a plurality of nestable casseroles constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, showing -1 the same as stacked in assembled relation with each other and with a plurality .of plates or platters.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the casseroles, the same being of an .oval type :to be used in conjunctionwith a standard platter and also showing the improved vent means for the selective control of the escape of steamer vapors.

Figure :3 illustrates a circular form of .casserole to be used with the standard plate, and in this figure, one-half of the cover is shown as cut away toillustrate more clearly theselective operation of the vapor escape outlet. 7

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of a portion of a casserole and assembled cover showing the yapor escape means of this invention.

As sh wn in he drawing:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally the body of a casserole or other container having a removable lid or cover 12, this lid or cover 12 being adapted to-be positioned uponan inwardly extending annular ledge 14 extending around the periphery of the casserole body at the inner upper edge thereof. 1

It will be noted that the lid or cover 12 has an annular ledge 16 extending around the periphery thereof and conforming in shape to the casserole and cover whether oval ,or circular, this ledge beine fort u oseo re ivi and e a nin an annular support element 18 formed integral with the casserole at the bottom thereof as best shown in Figure 1.

Such supports are also formed integral with the standard plate or platter, two of which are shown at 20 in Figure 1, the corresponding supports orbase members being illustrated at 22.

A handle element 24 is provided in the lid or cover of each casserole, this being countersunk and having its topmost portion on substantially the same level as the remainder of the cover as best illustrated in Figure 1 whereby ample space is provided for the reception of a plate, platter or other casserole which it is desired be assembled in nested relation with the said first-named casserole and cover.

.By the use of both oval and circular shapes of casseroles, the same can be made to correspond for operative purposes with standard platters or plates of oval and circular shapes respectively,

the oval form being especially adapted for the serving of fried, baked or smothered meat, fish, or poultry and the circular form being for the serving of stews and semi-liquid articles of food.

In the oval form of casserole as best illustrated in Figure 2, there is provided adjacent each end a notch 26 cut into the body of the casserole, this notch being also illustrated in sectional detail in Figure 4, and a corresponding notch 28 is formed in the under-face of the lid 12, the place where this notch 28 occurs being indicated on the cover by means of an arrow or other insignia 30. It will be noted that there are two of the notches 26 and two corresponding grooves 28 with respective indicia, and that when the lid 12 is applied to the casserole 10 in one position, the notches and grooves 26 and 28 will be aligned, thereby allowing the ready escape of vapors or the like whereby the contents will be preserved in desired dry condition.

In the event, however, that some article of food is served in such a casserole which it is desired to retain in a more or less moist condition, the positioning of the. cover 12 upon the casserole 10 can be reversed so that the arrows 30 do not point to the notches 26. In this manner, no free egress of vapor is permitted and the contents of the dish are accordingly preserved in a moist condition.

I-Ieretofore, openings of this kind have been placed in the covers of casseroles or the like whereby the escape of vapors is permitted, but such an opening in the cover cannot be controlled at will with regard to the egress of vapors whiie at the same time the nestable construction of the casserole of this invention would preclude free escape of vapors through an opening of the cover, particularly if said opening were in the center thereof as has heretofore been usual in these constructions.

As illustrated in Figure 3, notches 36 are formed in the circular casseroles comparable to the notches 26 of the oval casseroles, and suitable grooves and corresponding arrows as shown at 38 are provided in the cover or lid. Obviously, a simple alignment of the arrow 38 with the notch will produce desired escape of vapors while a slight shifting of the cover to either the right or left by turning the handle will close this means of escape.

It will be evident that herein is provided a nestable casserole which can be used in stacked relation with other similar casseroles and also with standard plates or platters if and when desired. This enables the ready and convenient serving of a large number of persons with hot and appetizing foods at substantially the same time, as the foods can be preliminarily prepared and portions for a considerable number of people be served in the time ordinarily consumed in serving one person.

This will be found especially beneficial in the event of large banquets or the like wherein the capacities of hotels are sometimes over-taxed. The provision for the controlled escape of vapors constitutes an additional novel and useful feature of this invention which should render casseroles constructed in accordance therewith particularly desirable, and it will be noted that this feature can obviously be used in conjunction with any casserole whether nestable or not.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A circular casserole having a dish-like body and a lid, a countersunk handle in the lid, the body with the lid thereon capable of being associated in stacked relation with other similar casseroles and with plates and platters of standard size, the plates and platters alternating with the casseroles, and means in the lid and the body of the casserole for permitting the controlled escape of vapors therefrom, said means comprising a notch in the body of the casserole adjacent the contacting surface of the lid, and a groove in the lid adapted to be aligned with said notch.

2. An oval casserole having a dish-like body and a lid, the body with the lid thereon capable of being associated in stacked relation with other similar casseroles, means in the lid for receiving and retaining the base portions of such casseroles, and additional means in the lid and the body of the casserole for permitting the controlled escape of vapors therefrom, said means comprising a notch in the body of the casserole adjacent the contacting surface of the lid, and a groove in the under-face of the lid adapted to be aligned with said notch.

ALBERT P. STALLE'. 

